cuadros



@aenee Nay L mm M. J. CUADROS.

APPARATUS Fos FmlNG URDNANCE om SHIPS.

No. www.

(Application fxled Apr. 19, 1898.)

2 Shees-Sheei l.

No Model.)

ga @if @wauw-1 A Haw yw Q wm No. 626,002. Patentexd May 30, |899.

M. J. CUADROS.

APPARATUS FDR FIRING ORDNANCE 0N SHIPS.

(Applicaten led Apr. 19, 1898.)

@No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

www

' ments in apparatus of' the retaining-guide.

lillivirsn drames APPARATUS i-'O'R FIRING ORDNANCE 0N SHIPS..

SPECIFICATIN forming part of Letters Patent N o. 626,002, dated May 30, 1899.

Applicant nea' April 19; 189s. serai No. 878,151.

Be it known that l, MANUEL JOS CUAD; nos, a citizen ofPeru, residing at Lima, Peru, have invented certain new and useful Improvenients in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating the Firing of Ordnance on Ships; and 1 do herebyT declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to improvefor automatically regulating the tiring' of ordnance on ships, and more particularly relates to a construction designed as an improvement ony the form of these devices sho in United States Patent No. 455,176, grantedto me June 30, 1891.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient means whereby a suitably-mounted pendulum -may be heldin proper relation to a contact-pin for engagement therewith in order that an electrical circuit may be closed when the ship is in its normal position, so that correct tiring of the guns may be had, and,furthermore,the in vention contemplates the provision of means designed for retaining the contact-pin in a fixed position, so that the same may be engaged by the pendulum without the necessity of previously positioningthc contact-pin.

Vith these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of theimprovement is better understood, the invention consists substantially in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter-fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of an apparatus for automatically regulating the tiring of ordnance constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view of the pendulum, the retaining-guide, and the contact-pin. Fig. 3 is a top plan view Fig. -fl is a vertical sectional view ot' the contact-pin. Fig. 5

is a transverse sectional view oi'` a vessel hav ing the l1ereii1-described apparatus applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 contact-point holder may (No mode'lJ Secured within the frame 1, at the lower end thereof and directly beneath the pendulum 2, is a'supporting-frame' 4, and arranged lupon the-standards 5 ot' said frame is an elliptical retaining-guide t5. A depending stem 7 is removably secured within the lower portion of the pendulum 2, which stem projects into and is confined within the retaining-guide 6, a layer S of insulating material encircling the stem 7 to insulate the same from the guide 6.

The lower end of the depending stem 7 is provided with a removable contact-point holder 9, which is provided with a transverse aperture or passage-way il', designed for the reception of a suitable instrument whereby the removed from the stem 7, and said holder 9 is provided with a contact-point lO, designed for the purpose to be presently stated.

Extending between the standards 5 of the frame 4 is a pair of horizontally-disposed guides 11, which guides are provided with alined openings 12, and disposed within said openings is a vertically-movable contact-pin 13, said pin being provided at its upper end with a contact-point holder 11, secured within said pin by means of a screw 15 or its equivalent. A contact-point 16 is carried by the holder 14,' and it will be noted that the body of said contact-point is elongated in contradistinetion to the contactpoint 10, which is carried bythe holder 9. The purpose of this.construction is to provide a comparatively large engaging surface extending across the path of the pendulum, with which the contact-point 10 is adapted to engage foi` closing a circuit, and it will thus be seen that when said point 10 isbrought into proper relation with the pin 13 a positive contact is made. The pendulum 2- is in electrical connection with one pole of a batter r or generator, while the contact-.pin 13 is similarly connected with the other pole thereof, this circuit being' provided with a suitable switch, (not shown, which is under the control ot' the gunner, and by reason of this when said be secured to or switch is properly manipulated the circuit may be closed simply by contact between the two points 10 and 16, which contact causes the tiring of the gun.

The body of the pin 13 is providedwith a transverse slot 17, and the standards 5 of the frame 4 are also provided with similar slots 18, a lever 19 passing through the slots 17 and 18 and being fulcrumed to one of the standards 5, asat 20. A'spring 21 is secured to the lever 19, the free end of said spring 21 passing through the slot 17 and contacting with the upper end thereof, and by reason of this construction it will be seen that the contact-pin 13 is capable of a vertical yielding movement when the pendulum engages therewith, but not sufficient to prevent the 'points 10 and 16 making proper contact. The lever 19 is provided with an armature 22, which armature is arranged adjacent to a series of clectromagnets 23, and said magnets are in circuit with a suitable source of energy, which circuit also includes a switch (not shown) under the control of an oilicer of the vessel. It will thus be seen that when the circuit embracing the magnets 23 is closed the lever 19 will be attracted toward the same with a resultant upward movement of the contactpin 13, and said pin will be held in this position until said circuit is broken.v However, it' it isdcsired to retain the pin 13 fixed in this elevated position irrespective ofthe magnets 23 the same may be accomplished by means ot a wedge'24, the latter being'earried by the lever 19 at the end thereofopposite to,

the armature 22, said wedge being disposed within a weight 25, which weight is designed to lower the contact-pin 13 when the circuit through the electromagnets 23 is broken and which is adjustably mounted upon said lever 1f) by means of a screw 26 or its equivalent. The wedge 2i is adapted to enter a correspondingly-shaped notch or recess 27, which is formed inthe slot 18 of the adjacent standard 5, and it will thus be seen that when said wedge is positioned therein the lever`19 will be` incapable ot' downward movement, by which the contact-pin 13 remains in fixed position, so as to be engaged by the pendulum 2 when the vessel assumes Aits normal position.

The operation ofthe herein-described regulating apparatus is as follows: The gun being aimed at a determined angle f or tiring and it is'desired to discharge the same, a circuit is closed through the electromagnets 23, whereby the contact-pin 13 is moved upwardly in the manner previously stated, thereby positioning the contact-point 1G in the transverse path of the point 10, and a circuit having been closed through the gunners switch it is obvious that immediately upon the point 1t) engaging the point li the circuit will be completed therethrough, whereby the gun will be'diseharged. It is to be noted, however, that the retaining-guide o' confines the depending stem 7 within a 'limited radius. Hence although the pendulum 2 is capable of universal movement such movement is not sufficient to permit the stem 7 swinging iu such manner as to avoid the desiredcontact, and it will be further observed that immediately upon engagement of the points 10 and 16 the gun will be discharged. This is a highly advantageous feature of the present invention inasmuch as the gun will be discharged at the angle of aimpreviously determined,

so that accuracy thereof is positivelyinsured. While the construction herein shown and4 described is believed to be a preferable embodiment of the invention, yet it is to be understood that the latter is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, and the right is therefore reserved to modify 'or Vary the invention as falls within the spirit and scope thereof. Having thus described the invention,- what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus of the character described, thecombination with a pendulum having a depending stem, of a spring-pressed contact-pin located beneath said stem and adapted tomake contact therewith, substantially as described.

2, In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pendulum having a depending stem, of a spring-pressed contact-pin located beneath said stern and adapted to make contacttherewith,and means for withdrawing the contact-pin from the range of the stem, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character dcscribed, the combination with a pendulum having a depending stem, of a contact-pin located beneath said stem and adapt-ed to make contact therewith, and a lever yieldably connected tothe contact-pin, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pendulum having a depending stem, ofa spring-pressed contact-pin located bencathsaid stem and adapted to make contact therewith, and means electrically controlled for withdrawing the contact-pin from the range of the stem, substantially as described.

5. In au apparatus of the character described, the combinationv with a pendulum having adepending stem, ef a contact-pin located beneath said stem and adapted to make contact therewith, andan electrically-operated lever yieldably connected to the contact-V pin, substantially as described.

G. In an apparatus of the character described,the combination with a pendulum having a depending stem, of a contact-pin located beneath said stem to make contact therewith, and a guide adapted to contine the movements of the -pendulum to near-lv a straight line, substantially as described 7. In an apparatus of the character described, a pen'dulum suitably suspended, a guide to limit the movements of the pendu- IOOA in the path of the pendulum .having a depending stem, of a scribed, the

'lum to nearly a straight line, and means located inthe path of the pendulum to make electrical contact therewith, substantially as described.

8. In anv apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination with a pendulum spring-pressed said stem to contact-pin located beneath make contact therewith, anda guide adapted to confine the movements of the pendulum tonearly c raishtlne, Substantially as described. `i

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pendulum havinga dependiugstem, of a contact-pin located beneath said stem to make contact therewith, a guide for confining the movements of the pendulum to nearly a straight line, and means for withdrawing the contact-pin from the range :of the stem, substantially as described.

l0. In an apparatus of the character decombination with a pendulum having a depending stem, of acontact-pin located beneath said stem to make contact therewith,means for confining the movements of the stem, and an insulating-sleeve on said stem, substantially as described.

11. In -an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pendulum having a depending stem, of a contact-pin located beneath said stem to make contact therewith, a guide for limiting the movements of the stein and an electrically-operated le- Ver yieldably connected to the contact-pin, substantially as described.

l2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of the pendulum having a depending stem, of a supporting- -frame located beneath the pendulu m,a springpressed contact pin slidable therein and adapted to make contact with the stem,means for electrically operating said contact-pin to cause it-to slide in the frame, substantiallyas described. A.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pendulum having a depending stem, of a frame located beneath the pendulum, a contact-pin slidable therein, an electrically-operated lever pivoted in the frame and yieldably connected to the piu, substantially as described.

l-L. scribed, a pendulum suitably guide to limit the movements lum to nearly a straight line,

suspended, a of the pendumeans located to make electrical contact therewith, and means for insulating the pendulum from the guide, substantially as described.

l5. In an apparatus of the ,character described, the combination with a pendulum having a depending stem, of a frame located beneath the pendulum, a contact-pin slidable therein, a lever pivoted to the frame and In an apparatus of the character de yieldably connected to the contact-pin, an adjustable wedge-shaped Weight slidable on the lever and `adapted to engage the flame to hold the contact-pin in a xed position and means for operating the lever, substantially as described.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, the combinationwith a pendulum electrically connected with a gun, a depending stem car'- ried by the pendulum, a contact-point holder carried by said stem, and a contact-point ar- Arangedin said holder, cfa supporting-frame arranged beneath the pendulum,acontactpin slidably mounted in said frame and adapted to close the circuit between the pendulum and the gun, a contact-point holder carried by said pin, a contact-point arranged Within said holder and having its body elongated to provide a comparatively large surface'ifor en-f gagement by the contact-point of the pendulum, a lever fulcrumled in said supportingframe and upon which the contactpin is mounted, a spring carried by said lever' and adapted to permit said piu having a yielding contact with the pendulum, a weight mounted upon said lever, a wed ge' arranged within saidv weight and adapted to engage the supportingframe for retaining the contact-pin in fixed position with relation to the pendulum, an oblong guide supported on the frame and surrounding the depending stem for confining the movements thereof to nearly a straight line, and an insulating-sleeve around the stem to prevent electrical contact between the stem and the guide, substantially as described.

`17. In an apparatus of the character -de'- scribed, the combination with a pendulum .having a depending stem, of a means for conining the movements of the stem to nearlya straight line, and an elongated contact-pin located beneath the pendulum with its long edge acrossthe path of the stem, substantially as described.

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pendulum having-a depending stem, of a means for coniining the movements of the stem to nearly a straightline, an elongated contact-pin located beneath the pendulum with its long edge across the path of the stern, and means for withdrawing the contact-pin from the range of the stem, substantially as described.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pendulum having a dependingste'm, ,of a contact-pin` located beneath the pendulumiand a removable contact-point carried by sa1dpin`adapted t`o engage the depending stem, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my 'signature in presence of two Witnesses,

- MANUEL JOSE CUADROS. lVitnesses:

F. L. CROSBY, D. GAMIo. l

IOO

IOK

IIO 

